by podblack on January 1, 2009
Oxford Dictionary of Superstitions: First-Foot at New Year / Christmas : female-unlucky. 1821: T.D Fosbroke Ariconensia 58 – ‘On the first day of the year, it is deemed very unfortunate, for a woman to enter the house first; and therefore an inquiry is mostly made, whether a male has previously been there.’ 1866: Henderson, Northern [...]
by podblack on September 19, 2008
Heard of the ‘Ghost Light’? Thanks to Playbill.com: ‘Theatrical folk are a superstitious lot. Wishing actors a broken leg (don’t ever tell them “good luck”), avoiding whistling backstage (it used to confuse the stagehands), and being careful not to say Mac. . .—I mean, “The Scottish Play” (it’s cursed, you know) are just a sampling [...]
by podblack on June 1, 2008
The following post is for Classic Science Papers: The 2008 “Challenge”. I’m certain that when most people think of a ‘classic’ paper on a topic like superstition or belief in the paranormal, they may think of B.F Skinner’s Superstition in the Pigeon. But as you can see, it was published after World War II, whilst [...]
